Customer Reviews

Touch of Pink [VHS]

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Touch of Pink would have to be one of the most enjoyable films to be released in some time. Although the Anglo/Indian cross-cultural themes have been done before in films like Bend It Like Beckham, A Touch of Pink would have to one of the first films where the narrative is given a wickedly gay slant. Combining his love of old Hollywood movies, with elements of his own culturally conservative background, writer-director Ian Iqbal Rashid paints a picture of a world where indulging in gentle, romantic fantasies helps one get through the day, and where young gay men can present many different identities and personalities.

The story revolves around the family and love life of Alim (Jim Mistry). He's an Indian who was born in Kenya, raised in Canada, and as an adult, moved to England. In London, Ali lives a great life - he has a nice apartment, he is openly gay, and Giles (Kristen Holden-Ried), his live-in boyfriend, is a kind, devoted, and supportive blond hunk. But Alim is still not out to his traditional Indian Muslim family, who now live in Toronto.

Alim also has a secret: he thinks he's living with the ghost of Cary Grant (played with dashing charm by Kyle MacLachlan). While Alim works at his job as a movie-still photographer, and hangs out in his pajamas to watch classic movies, Cary Grant sits beside him offering friendly advice and a sympathetic ear. Alim is obviously has a terrible crush on him, and Cary has become his most trusted companion. When Alim's conservative mother Nuru (a gorgeous Suleka Mathew) drops in unexpectedly for a visit, Alim must devise a plan to hide his gay life from her.

Nuru feels bitter and resentful about the Caucasian Brits. She's also angry because when she was a young girl she wanted to be an Indian Doris Day, but she realized pretty early on that no one wanted one. Wary of her astringency and suspiciousness, Alim and Grant devise their own charade: Giles must become is his flat mate, and Giles' cute, easygoing sister (Lisa Repo-Martell) his fiancée. Of course things don't go as planned, and things backfire when lies lead to more deception. Alim is eventually forced to confront the ghosts of his own making and come out to his mother.

A Touch of Pink is basically about the difficulties of coming out, particularly to one's family, but more importantly, to one's self. It isn't until Alim has exorcised many of the doubts and difficulties from his life, that he can be truly honest, and let the ghost of Cary Grant go. The adorable Mistry does a great job of conveying Alim's neurosis and uncertainty about his life and his mother's acceptance of him. MacLachlan also does a good impersonation of Cary Grant as he spews up all sorts of harebrained advice that gets Alim in more trouble. Although, towards the end of the film, his contestant presence does begin to get a bit wearing.

Nuru is a well-drawn, quite wonderful creation, and Suleka Mathew's stunning beauty adds to Nuru's mixture of vituperative sass and hidden vulnerability. She's torn between her desire to see her son happy and her urge to make it appear to her gossipy relatives that Alim is a happily married, well adjusted heterosexual. A Touch of Pink is a charming, graceful movie, full of heart-felt emotion and realistic, relevant characters. The notion that one must be true to one's self is of the utmost importance, but as Alim discovers, honesty and truly being happy, inevitably come at a price. Mike Leonard November 04.

Think Bend it Like Beckham with a La Cage Aux Folles twist, then you'll get a Touch of Pink.

In a fun nod to the comedies of the 1950's, with modern implications, Touch of Pink combines a culture clash with a generation clash, with an end result that's predicatable but fun. Written by Ian Rashid, Touch of Pink stars Jimi Mistry as the hapless protaginist Alim, forced to throw his life, and his saucy boyfriend played by Kristen Holden-Reid, back into the closet when his noisy Muslim mother decides to visit him in England. Alim's invented an imaginary friend in the form of Cary Grant, played refreshingly by Kyle McLaughlin, who offers advice through the film, not all of it good.

What follows is fairly predictable, and anyone can see the ending from a mile away. But still, the journey getting there is a wonderful ride. Rashid's script is witty, and several lines earn a good hearty out-loud laugh. The performances are sharp, especially Suleka Matthew, who's obviously way too young to be Alim's mother, but delivers her lines with zing and zest and a great deal of fun.

I recommend getting a Touch of Pink if you'd like a touch of fun and a good evening at the movies.

This review refers to "Touch of Pink" DVD edition(Columbia/Tristar)

Bollywood meets Hollywood in this simply charming romantic comedy. If you loved The Birdcage, you must give this one a look.

Alim's cousin is getting married. His Aunt and Uncle are well to do and are pulling out all the stops. Nuru, his mother, wants to keep up with the family's strict Muslim values and traditions, and decides to make a surprise visit to Alim at his apartment in London. Her intentions are to get him back to the impending nuptials in Toronto, and find a worthy girl for him as well.

The only little problem is, Alim is already spoken for. He has been enjoying life with his very handsome boyfriend. Living in London, with the rest of the family in Toronto, he has been able to keep his lifestyle a secret. It is not a relationship that his mother will understand.

The couple go to great lengths to hide their relationship, but eventually they know she must be told. How will she react? What about the rest of the family, will they be able to handle this news? It's a great view finding out.

Added to the fun of this comic and touching tale, is Alim's invisible friend, in the form of none other then Cary Grant,played impeccably by Kyle MacLachlan. Cary is always there to dole out advice to poor Alim in all his confusion. Cary cleverly uses scenes from his own films, to steer Alim in the right direction.

Written and directed by Ian Iqbal Rashid it is a film that will leave you smiling. One that will stand up to repeated viewings.

Jimi Mistry does a fine job in his role of Alim and Suleka Mathew is marvelous as Nuru. The DVD is very nice. A beautiful picture in anamorphic widescreen with excellent color and sound. There is a making of featurette and commentary as well.

Enjoy...Laurie

also recommended:La Cage Aux Folles

"Touch of Pink" is a charming and entertaining story. Many new gay films aspire to leave behind the stereotypes, and dig deep into their respective subjects. Yet, I find this film leaves behind most, but keeps just enough of the stereotypes to make it enjoyable. The film doesn't aspire to be just another version of reality, however. It is a story, with make-believe movie-star friends, family, love, and cross-cultural clashes. "Touch of Pink" is all of this without high melodrama, and without over-the-top steam scenes. It is a good watch, and a good laugh.

Touch of pink has a lot of different elements happening, such as culture clash, gay romance/infidility, coming out, and so on. The film is actually quite enjoyable as dramedy, even though it's geared towards being more of a comedy. While it's very pleasing visually, considered the production and wardrobe and music are very good, it's the main characters that make the film more affecting. I very much enjoyed the performance from Suleka Mathew who is made to look older to be Jimi Mistry's mother, and she steals the scenes effortlessly. Having worked with Canadian actor Kris Holden Reid in Never Forget(2007 release), I was quite surprised and taked by his willingness to tackle so many gay love scenes and nudity. He plays the love interest of Jimi, but his character is not so monogamous but emotionally committed. I do like his British accent, but I find his mannerism is too straight looking. That comes from Jimi Mistry as well, his appearance and portrayal is somewhat wooden and it's not the properly subtle gay, even his character is supposed to be closeted. The emotional range of his performance is there, and that was quite touching at times. Finally, I must say that while it's just a supporting role, Kyle Maclachlan did a marvellous job at impersonating Gary Grant. The voice and mannerism, plus the right makeup, hair, and wardrobe on him. I thought George Clooney was the only one who looks very much like Grant, I guess I am wrong.

This movie captures the pains involved in coming out in a very touching, and for the most part amusing way. I highly reccomend this movie.

Cute story! Cute actors! A piece of romantic fluff, but a pleasant way to spend 90 min.

Ian Iqbal Rashid is a sensitive director who is bringing the two poles of Indian Bollywood and Indie 'Hollywood' closer together. In TOUCH OF PINK he has taken the best of both and created a tender, charming, warmly funny tale of the struggle of a Pakistani young cameraman Alim (Jimi Mistry) in coming to grips with his sexuality. Yes, the story has been done many times, but rarely with the genuine tenderness Rashid has found.

Alim, a transplanted Pakistani youth born in Kenya, raised in Toronto, Canada and living in London, has a guardian angel in the form of Cary Grant (Kyle MacLachlan) who has replaced his father he never knew and who is his constant companion in his flat in London - giving advice Alim wants to hear while acting as a curtain to shield Alim from the more difficult facts of his being an openly gay male. Alim is in love with Giles (Kristen Holden-Ried) and they live a happy life together - until Alim's mother Nuru (Suleka Mathew) comes to pay them a visit.

Nuru has lived alone since her husband's death, always longing for a fantasy life of fleeing the restrictions of Indian culture to become a star like Doris Day. Her life is one of frustration and her hopes for something better seem to rest on her only son Alim's getting married so that Nuru can compete with her sister currently planning an extravagant wedding for her own son Khaled.

Once in London, Nuru finds Alim cold, living with a British man, and finds her hopes for a possible wedding quashed. Giles takes the reluctant Nuru for a shopping and dancing day and wins her heart. But when Nuru finally discovers Alim's secret, she leaves London, hurt, sad, and despondent. Giles is angry with Alim's harsh handling of their relationship and leaves Alim to the sole companionship of his Cary Grant. Through a series of discoveries and introspection Alim flies to Toronto to the wedding of his cousin, to appease Nuru, and there Pandora's Box opens resulting is a series of surprises that bring the actions to resolution. Though many will have seen the end coming, for those who have not seen the movie, telling the plot ending would be a sad disservice!

The dialogue is smart, the use of the Cary Grant guardian angel is excellent (especially given the fine performance by Kyle MacLachlan), and the characters as portrayed by this talented and attractive cast are indeed loveable. This is a feel-good movie, a fine statement about being true to one's self, and a healthy look at gay relationships that are not either 1) candy coated or 2) sadistic or doomed. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, January 2005

Pleasant gay romantic comedy, but overly familiar. Viewers who aren't acquainted with flicks before the advent of Lindsay Lohan may be enthralled, but if you've seen LA CAGE, MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING, MONSOON WEDDING, PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM, or any one of several dozen oldies but goodies, you'll recognize various bits and pieces as they float by here. However, an engaging cast, some laugh-out loud funny lines, the odd surprise twist in the screenplay (dramatic situations old when Thespis hauled that second actor up on stage will suddenly blossom into territory we've never seen before), and a general our-heart's-in-the-right-place air here make it worth a watch.

The movie is a nice comedy of good quality. The gayness of the main character, Alim, and of his lover, Giles, is not over the line. It's more an insight in a very possible modern couple in London. Other than Alim's conservative mother doesn't know about his son. Even if it's not so highlighted, I believe there is not only a prejudice but also a custom trouble.

The love story is between Alim and Giles, but truth be told, most of the scene are between Alim and "Cary Grant", the imaginary friend Alim built in his mind to replace the lost figure of his father, and that now is an excuse for him to not totally commit to Giles: no one can be at the same level of Cary Grant.

I like Giles's character, even if his affair with Alistair let me with a bitter taste... but in the end everything goes in the right direction. In the end, this is after all a romantic comedy.